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Nonprofits scramble to meet families' needs

Khalil Thomas, Ya'lan Walker and D'Vonte Thomas wait to fill up on turkey at Tuesday night's Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Eternal Bread of Life Outreach Ministries at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center.

PHOTO BY LESLEY DWYER

By LESLEY DWYER

Published: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 9:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 9:38 p.m.

SARASOTA - With Thanksgiving just a day away and Christmas on the horizon, area nonprofits are struggling to provide take-home meals for people who depend on them to bring some holiday cheer.

Eternal Bread of Life Outreach Mission, which hosted a sit-down dinner Tuesday at the Robert Taylor Community Center, had requests from about 525 families for food that they could take home and make themselves on Thanksgiving.

After a last-minute scramble, Eternal Bread of Life was able to buy 465 turkeys and only came up 60 short.

But the nonprofit had to turn away another 100 families, said Shirley McArthur, who operates the outreach with her husband, the Rev. Neil McArthur.

Most of the turkeys were bought with a $1,500 donation, the couple said.

Meanwhile, Second Chance Last Opportunity — which hoped to give out take-home meals to 250 families — could only give out 58 complete meals by Tuesday afternoon. Still, CEO April Glasco said, “Everyone’s getting something.”

Suncoast Food Alliance dropped off boxes of produce, and Sunset KIA of Venice donated 20 $10 Butterball coupons. The agency was also handing out gift cards from Publix.

Donations can be dropped off until noon today. “We really need prepared meals,” Glasco said. “Some people don’t have the equipment or a place to cook a turkey.”

At Tuesday evening’s Eternal Bread of Life dinner, buses brought diners from the Salvation Army, Resurrection House and area assisted living facilities.

Anyone who asked was brought to the center to eat.

“We prepare for 1,000 people,” Shirley McArthur said. She and her husband have organized the feast for 22 years.

“The first year, we had about 300, but there have been years where over 1,000 came,” she said.

And although everything is donated, the setup is fit for a true Thanksgiving feast, with decorations, linen tablecloths, more than 75 pies and nearly an equal number of volunteers.

The Booker girls basketball team helped out and for the fourth year in a row, staff from Sarasota Periodontal Associates served the food.

“It makes us feel as good as it makes them feel,” volunteer Lewis Hanan said. “It’s a good way for us to start off the holiday season.”

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - With Thanksgiving just a day away and Christmas on the horizon, area nonprofits are struggling to provide take-home meals for people who depend on them to bring some holiday cheer.</p><p>Eternal Bread of Life Outreach Mission, which hosted a sit-down dinner Tuesday at the Robert Taylor Community Center, had requests from about 525 families for food that they could take home and make themselves on Thanksgiving.</p><p>After a last-minute scramble, Eternal Bread of Life was able to buy 465 turkeys and only came up 60 short.</p><p>But the nonprofit had to turn away another 100 families, said Shirley McArthur, who operates the outreach with her husband, the Rev. Neil McArthur.</p><p>Most of the turkeys were bought with a $1,500 donation, the couple said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Second Chance Last Opportunity — which hoped to give out take-home meals to 250 families — could only give out 58 complete meals by Tuesday afternoon. Still, CEO April Glasco said, “Everyone's getting something.”</p><p>Suncoast Food Alliance dropped off boxes of produce, and Sunset KIA of Venice donated 20 $10 Butterball coupons. The agency was also handing out gift cards from Publix.</p><p>Donations can be dropped off until noon today. “We really need prepared meals,” Glasco said. “Some people don't have the equipment or a place to cook a turkey.”</p><p>At Tuesday evening's Eternal Bread of Life dinner, buses brought diners from the Salvation Army, Resurrection House and area assisted living facilities.</p><p>Anyone who asked was brought to the center to eat.</p><p>“We prepare for 1,000 people,” Shirley McArthur said. She and her husband have organized the feast for 22 years.</p><p>“The first year, we had about 300, but there have been years where over 1,000 came,” she said.</p><p>And although everything is donated, the setup is fit for a true Thanksgiving feast, with decorations, linen tablecloths, more than 75 pies and nearly an equal number of volunteers.</p><p>The Booker girls basketball team helped out and for the fourth year in a row, staff from Sarasota Periodontal Associates served the food.</p><p>“It makes us feel as good as it makes them feel,” volunteer Lewis Hanan said. “It's a good way for us to start off the holiday season.”</p>